Question:
Post-op RNY 8 months and weight loss stoped

Weight loss stoped at 7 months, I had lost about 70 lbs. now in the past month I gained 5 lbs. did anyone else have this problem? I know my water intake is a little lower, but my proteins are on target, what am I doing wrong?    — Nick R. (posted on June 21, 2007)

June 21, 2007
Are you exercising? Be honest... get the water back to 64ounces a day, are you drinking with meals if you are STOP!
   — DonnaB.

June 21, 2007
At this stage exericse is extremely important. After about 6 months your weight loss slows or stops so revving it up with exercise is a must. I find that if I work out every day, I lose! One week I lost 4 lbs after exercising 4 days in a row. There are plateau buster programs listed on OH...follow that plus step up your exercise and you'll see a drop! Sometimes it takes your body a few weeks to regroup.
   — Sheri A.

June 21, 2007
I probably am not going to be liked much here but I had the exact same thing happen to me at 5 months. Weight loss stopped. Yes, I was exercising(alot), I was eating protein and drinking more water than a camel preparing for a desert trek. Never got any help from professionals or people on here ... just a lot of emails telling me that I need to be honest with myself and telling me to do exactly what I was doing. I unfortunately felt like a failure and became bulimic and hooked on ephedra (it wasn't banned back then), I stopped all that and gained a lot of weight which I am currently losing. Do you keep a Fitday journal? That way you can keep track of your food and beverage calorie intake and log in exercise. Just stay positive and really focus on yourself ... I know I didn't give you much in the way of answers but I wanted you to know that your situation happens to other people too.
   — dream_small

June 21, 2007
Hey Nick, congratulations on the 70 pounds! Many people, after losing a lot of weight have a stalling moment. A true plateau is 12 weeks of the same weight loss or a little gain. Sometimes the body is in a starvation cycle that it has to adjust to before losing again. Step up your water, be sure you are getting enough protein and be sure that you are exercising. If you are not walking or something, you are causing this problem. Exercise is the most important factor in weight loss, surgery or not. Many wls patients do not understand this. If you don't exercise, you will regain, it is almost a given. If you are exercising, then it is possible that you just need to rest a little, drink water and perhaps go back to just protein shakes or protein for a few weeks. When I say rest, I really mean a mental break. If you heavy weight lift, I would stop that, but I would walk. I basically walked most of my weight off, and I walked twice a day in my neighborhood. 2 1/2 miles in the morning, and the same route at night. I have kept off all my weight for 3 1/2 years now and am just thrilled and thankful to God for success. If you are not exercising, today is the day Nick, don't wait another day to get started. If you do, then step back to basics, just all the other "stuff" out for a few weeks and see if that doesn't help you get started at weight loss again. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

June 22, 2007
First, don't beat yourself up. I had my lap RNY almost 5 years ago, and I completely stopped losing, period, at 8 months out. I was doing everything "right" - water, protein, exercise, etc., etc., etc. I even had my basal metabolic rate tested and according to that, I could eat more than 1600 calories per day to maintain my weight! I was never able to restart the weight loss. By the same token, I have not gained any weight back, and have lost about another 10 lbs over the past 9 months or so. I still have another 30 or so I would like to lose, and maybe that will happen. I will tell you that I get on the scale every morning, as it is much easier to lose 3 lbs when they creep on, than 30 lbs! The bottom line is - you are not doing anything wrong!
   — koogy

June 22, 2007
Congrats on answering your own question basically....drink more water! Also try to diversify the exercise program...good luck
   — LouAB